Equine gear carrying apparatus and method for its manufacture

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for carrying and/or storing equestrian sports gear having multiple pockets for receiving otherwise loose items, has an opening for facilitating accessibility, having a bottom of the apparatus (or “bottom of bag”, and is the portion of the apparatus that touches ground when the inner or outer compartment is being accessed or the portion of the apparatus that has surface/ground contact when the apparatus is placed down) which is easily wiped down, washed, and/or cleaned of unwanted foreign material.

The equestrian and sport spectators understand the inherent nature of and the nuisance of gear coming into contact with unwanted foreign material (UFM), the need to maintain all equipment and to remove most, if not all, UFMs after each use.

This invention addresses the need to contain boots and multiple loose gear/items, protect gear from unwanted foreign material, allow for the bottom of the bag to be easily washed/cleaned of UFM after each use so as to hinder the spread of UFM to the items the carrying bag contains or to areas where the storage/carrying apparatus will be present and aid in preventing a lingering odor.

Optionally, the invention is of different embodiments for ease of carrying/storage a specific gear and otherwise personal loose items, or multiple items of the riding uniform. The invention may be suspended from one or more shoulders of the wearer or have a carrying handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bags may appear similar at first glance, by appearance only. This invention includes one or more main compartment(s) in which to place item(s); has a mode to hold the bag (carrying handle, straps, strap, or combination thereof); have ability to close-off main compartment (closed by zipper, cinching fabric of integrated bag, Velcro, buttons, or other items which connects two areas of fabric); main compartment has optional fabric stiffener comprising: canvas toile or heavier gauged piping, may have optional internal divider in main compartment or bottom of the bag; may include outer or inner compartments which are an integral part/manufactured into the design of the bag and may or may not be removable and may or may not be secured (via a button, zipper, hook and loop, and other such items); may include tags, loops, D-Rings, buckles, straps, and other types of latches meant to hold additional items; may be designed with intent to stack with other bags for transport or storage of multiple bags; may have wheels. This bag provides the bottom of the bag to be easily wiped down, washed, or cleaned of UFMs as to prolong the longevity of the items, minimize transfer of UFMs; the bag may be fabricated in part or in entirety of material that may be coated or chemically treated, and which is easily cleaned or washed: the material may have an inherent nature to repel or have easily removed any UFM (such as leather, vinyl, etc.); If in part, then the area of the bag which comes into contact when put down or when used/accessed (referred to the “bottom of the bag”) will be made of material which is easily cleaned or washed. The bottom of the bag or the bag in its entirety may be of dirt resistant/non-absorbing material or be of or incorporate a material to the “bottom of the bag” which is coated or chemically treated to involving methods, but not limited to, that use one or a combination of ways to treating fabric or the bottom of a bag with methods involving oils, wax, polyurethane, iron on vinyl, sprays, roll-on chemicals, mineral spirits, silicone, turpentine, linseed, glues, or other treatment methods which would create an impermeable treated barrier to the bottom of the bag.

About Bottom of the bag or area in contact with surface or ground when accessed or stored or transported: The bottom of the bag can be any shape, have raised sides, be flat, or have a “lip” at the edge; in essence, it is of non-conforming shape. The surface of the bottom of the bag is easily washed, wiped down or cleaned to remove UFM. Optionally, the area of the bag which comes into contact with the surface or ground includes the ability to detach the main compartment for wiping down, washing, cleaning or interchanging the main compartment or a combination thereof. The bottom of the bag may be of a single- or multi-layered material comprised: resins, plastics, rubber, silicon, PVC, vinyl, faux leather fabrics or be of a combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawings are not drawn to scale, but are in accordance of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one preferred embodiment of a carrying/storage apparatus in which the carrying/storage apparatus is for boots with a bottom of the bag constructed of non-absorbing and/or water-resistant material in accordance of the invention

FIG. 2 is one plan view of the bottom of bag and main compartment pieces joining up.

FIGS. 3A and 3D are left and right-side elevations exemplifying one embodiment of the carrying/storage apparatus in accordance of the invention.

FIG. 4 are piece plans for one embodiment of the carrying apparatus 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 40E, 40F, 50A; piece plans for optional pocket and its possible construct 40F.1, 40F.2, 40F3; the zipper placement 50A; piece plan for a bottom of the bag 10A. Those of skill will understand the various shapes of each piece possible when constructing the pieces to form a whole.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of two embodiments of the invention as they are stacked for carrying as one unit.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of on embodiment of the carrying apparatus, in accordance of the invention.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C are piece plan views of the bottom of the bag in accordance of the invention. Illustration exemplifies various shapes and methods for joining the bottom 10B, 10C, 10D and main compartment 20 of the bag by way of different materials to include but not limited to option of joining pieces together by method of one or both compartments having holes and a string is strung through each to join the pieces 60, 60G.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are illustrations of some various materials, such as buttons, knobs, D-ring, cinch straps, used in joining of the main carrying/storage apparatus with the bottom of the bag, used for attaching otherwise loose items in alternative embodiments in accordance of the invention.

FIGS. 9,10 illustration of alternative piece use in accordance of the invention and exemplifies the use of holes, rope-like materials used with button in construction for joining the main compartment to the bottom of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invented gear carrying apparatus from Christina Fuller, Katherine Cortez, and Felicia Fuller of Chuluota, Fla., USA is a great improvement over conventional bags designed for the use of storing the equestrian riding gear for transporting and/or carrying the bag in two unique ways: 1) the bag has compartments and/or ways to attach/contain additional items 2) the gear carrying apparatus) referred to herein simply as a bag) is designed with the portion of the bag (the area that comes into contact when the otherwise loose items inside or attached to the bag are being accessed) to be easily wiped clean/washed of UFM with every use. The main compartment and bottom of the bag may be made of the same material; may be made of different materials, or a combination thereof. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other suitable materials can be made, and such materials are contemplated and intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. The material of the bottom of the bag does not absorb water/liquids and allows for easy cleaning, washing, or wiping down UFMs.

The bottom of the bag (area of bag which has ground contact when the bag is being placed down or when items in or attached to the bag are accessed) is/arc any suitable single-layered or multi-layered natural, synthetic, molded, and/or blended fabric/material; that is non-porous, water-resistant, and/or water-repellant; of construction (hemming, stitching, glue adhesives, heated melding of materials, elastic/plastic chord or piping, 3-D printing, or molded natural and/or synthetic materials); has a main compartment directly or by means of a main sub-compartment as an extension of the bottom of the bag or is attached by one of a combination of glue, chords, stitching, hemming, snaps, buttons, rotational buttons, D rings, tie-off string, zipper(s) or suitable material to a top portion of the bag.

Those of skill will appreciate from the drawings the bottom of the bag is of material that is easily wiped down to remove UFM; constructing the main top compartment and bottom of bag of different materials provides for the bottom to be made of material that is easily wiped down—usually a more dense and less-flexible material, thus allowing the top portion of the bag to be comprised of material(s) that is/are more aesthetically pleasing while the bag provides of greater functionality use in areas that are not deemed completely clean.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which there is a main compartment 20 and as it is joined to a bottom of bag 10 by use of stitching 60A. The figure also illustrates various modes for holding and/or carrying the bag 30A, 30B. The illustration shows the main compartment accessibility by means of a zipper 50A. This illustration of a version of the invention also has an elongated pocket on the outside of the main compartment for placing long, thin items such as a crop 40G.

Those of skill will appreciate from the drawings that the bag is lightweight, flexible while providing a stiffened fabric to protect riding gear from minor bends, provide for a bottom of the bag that is easy to wipe down, clean, wash with every use.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of the various ways in which the main compartment 20 can be connected 60 to the bottom of the bag 10 in accordance to the invention. Those of skill will appreciate the dash-dot and dotted lines representing stitching and hemming. And the arrows represent where the two pieces of the bag are joined. Those of skill will understand the height and shape of the bottom of the bag can vary and comply to the spirit of the invention; those of skill will understand there are numerous types of stitching and methods to join the main bag compartment and bottom of the bag (by other materials such as glue).

FIGS. 3A, 3B respectively illustrate a left and right view of one of the embodiments of the invention. The inner pocket 40G provides for easy access to stored items while the pocket can be made to have a flap, be accessed via zipper, button or other way to further secure items inside the pocket are within the spirit of the invention and are not illustrated here. The main compartment 20 is accessible via a zipper 50A. Furthermore, an optional loop 401 in this instance is of a chord that provides the function of attaching otherwise loose items. There is a strap 30A, 30B for holding or carrying the bag.

The right-side view of the bag 33 portrays the optional outer pocket 40F and inner pockets, 40G, the figure illustrates the inner pocket having the ability to secure items inside by means of a zipper 50A; optional loop 40B, 40, buttons 40A, and carrying handle and strap, respectively, 30B, 30A. The drawing illustrates the bottom of the bag 10 and main top compartment 20 joined by stitching 6A. Those of skill will understand there are numerous ways to join the portions of the bag.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F illustrates various piece patterns 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 and optional pocket patterns 40F and material types for constructing the main carrying apparatus. Various methods for closing the inside of the main compartment exist, the preferred method is utilizing a zipper 50A on piece 20.3. Additional optional piece patterns of an inner pocket 40E, outer pocket 40F can consist of materials such as shown are of materials such as 40.1F, 40.2F, 40.3F elastic netting, material which gives when put under pressure or the use of canvas type material made of natural, synthetic, or a combination of the two attached to provide the use of the ability to attach or store other carrying items or otherwise loose items by means of an external opening leading to an internal pocket 40E. Piece pattern 10A illustrates a pattern for constructing the bottom of the bag.

FIG. 5 illustrates ability to construct the carrying apparatus in such a way as to nestle and secure equipment bags together to create an easy system to transport loose gear/items. The figure shows two bags (each having a bottom of the bag 10 and main compartment 20, and illustration shows the zipper, 50A and carrying strap 30A, and stitching 60A by means of optional buttons 75 and chords 65 the two bags can be secured together for ease of transporting item by securing a button 8A an elastic loop 8E Securing the bags together can be completed using various materials. The FIG. 5 also illustrates two distinct embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. With a strap 30A, inner compartment divider 40D, upper compartment 20, bottom of bag 10A, the use of netting on the side panel of the main compartment by use of elastic netting.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C illustrates the versatility of the invention as during the manufacture of the main compartment embodiment can be shaped to receive more than one main piece of gear.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 9A, 9B illustrate various optional items used in the construction that are used to secure otherwise loose items and could be used to secure the bottom of the bag to the top of the bag while the bottom of the bag comprising of different forms and methods for joining the parts of the bag. Those of skill appreciate the versatility of some of the different embodiments of the bottom of a bag and their function in supporting various techniques to join the pieces.

FIG. 10A1 illustrates a preferred method is use of a sewn pattern piece to form a bottom of bag. Those of skill will appreciate the double-line to indicate hemming, the dotted line to be where the main compartment will attach to the bottom of the bag. The bottom of the bag with the preferred method can be of a single layer material 10A2 or be of layered materials 10A3. A pattern for the bottom of the bag 10A4 shows a double-line for hemming and dotted-line to indicate where stitching is applicable to create the bottom of the bag. Optional embodiments of the bottom of the bag include molded materials and various shapes with each having a different method for securing to the main compartment of the invention 10B1, 10B2, 10C, 10D.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited by its dimensions or by the details of its construction, material(s), assembly or manufacture or use illustrated or described in this document. Any variation of fabrication, use, or application is contemplated as an alternative embodiment, and, hence, is within the scope and spirit, of the present invention. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication, manufacture, material, application or use as illustrated and described herein.

Additionally, the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to various embodiments of the apparatus, to those skilled it will become obvious that other changes in detail and/or form may be made therein without departing from the spirit nor scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. It is the appended claims of this invention, not restrictive illustrations, that provide the scope and inherent spirit of this invention.

The invention provides advantages over mainstay riding gear carrying apparatuses. The obvious benefit is the bottom of the bag being of different material than the main compartment and is easily wiped down, washed, or cleaned with every use. This advantage reduces the spread of unwanted foreign materials and the accompanying odors. Additionally, the present invention affords for the use of different fabrics, allowing the portions that are used for accessing, carrying or moving the bag to be of softer fabric that is more pleasing to the touch and deemed more aesthetically pleasing.

Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention has been described and shown with reference to illustrations, that other changes in form and detail ma be made therein without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An equestrian sports gear carrying apparatus comprising of: a large main top compartment forming a receptacle for otherwise loose items, such as the equestrian riding boot; helmet; a bottom of bag that is of material(s) that are easily wiped down, cleaned or washed to remove unwanted foreign material(s); a mechanism for carrying and/or maneuvering the equestrian sports gear carrying apparatus; a minimum of one smaller receptacle area for receiving and/or attaching otherwise loose items;
 2. The carrying apparatus of claim 1, having main top compartment receiving area comprising: an interior area for receiving larger main items comprising: helmet, boots; a stiffened material in select areas to protect apparatus' received items or use of stiffener comprising: canvas stiffener, nylon mesh, fabric stiffener, epoxies; an interior or exterior pocket for receiving otherwise loose items comprising: cell phone, keys, wallet, make up; a mechanism to attach other carrying/storage apparatuses or items; wherein the apparatus to close a compartment comprises: zipper, loop and hook, buttons, flap(s).
 3. The carrying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main top compartment and bottom of bag are joined to form a single integrated piece.
 4. A bottom of the bag comprising: a durable material(s)/fabric(s) as to promote the ease of wiping down, washing, and/or cleaning the bottom of the be with each use.
 5. The method of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the main top compartment is joined to the bottom of the bag comprises: preparing bottom of the bag of material that is easily removed of UFM, and selectively affixing a prepared main compartment with the bottom of bag to create one unit; wherein the join of the main top compartment and the bottom of bag preferred method is sewn, and may have the optional method that allows for the two joined compartments be separated; wherein the join comprises: straps, zippers, buttons and button-holes, tie-offs, elastic that extends around a bottom of the bag, latches on either the main compartment or on the bottom of the bag that loop to ridged-like teeth on the other portion of the bag, or a combination of different joining methods placed in any order on the main top compartment or bottom of the bag (i.e. buttons are on the bottom of the bag and button holes are on the top main compartment or, the method may be reversed, buttons are on the top main compartment and the button holes are on the bottom of the bag).
 6. The method of claim 1 and 5 to obtain the easy to wipe down, wash, and/or clean UFM on the material used for the bottom of bag comprises of any of the following: a single or plural layer of natural or synthetic fabric/fibrous material of a non-specified weight comprising: vinyl, leather, cotton, faux leather, patent leather; a chemically treated or coated single or plural layer of natural or synthetic fabric/fibrous material of non-specified weight comprising: vinyl, leather, cotton, faux leather, patent leather; a combination of chemically treated/coated and untreated single or plural layer of natural or synthetic fabric/fibrous material of non-specified weight comprising: vinyl, leather, cotton, faux leather, patent leather; a molded resin comprising: rubber, PVC, molded plastics, or other forms of resins a combination of molded resin and fabric/fibrous material. 